This month our favorite game is perfect for preschoolers but my 8 year old loves playing it, too.
Chickyboom is a balancing game with a simple, but brilliant concept. During game play, kids will intuitively develop their understanding of how balance works, exercise their fine motor skills and practice counting. It also teaches cause and effect and develops coordination. (Affiliate links are used below.)
How to Play ChickyBoom:
The instructions for Chickyboom are simple. Players load chicks, hay bales and wagon wheels onto a platform which is then balanced on a support. Taking turns, players remove pieces, one at a time until the the board becomes unstable and slides off with a “boom!” Each piece is marked with a point value, representing its proportional weight. The player with the most points at the end wins.
Special Considerations for Game Play:
- Game play takes only minutes.
- Loading the board is easier if done off the support.
- A grown-up or older child with steady hands is required to set the loaded balancing board on top of the support.
- Kids will learn about balance when they experiment with different placement of the pieces on the balancing board.
- Game play without scoring is just as satisfying as keeping score.
- This game is best for ages 4 and up. Older 3s may also be able to play.
- After playing the game, most preschoolers will love using the pieces for pretend play!
Playing with Toddlers at the Table:
- Unless your older children are extremely patient, I don’t recommend playing Chickyboom with toddlers, but…
- Toddlers will love watching and shouting “boom!”
- Toddlers will love playing with the pieces on their own with supervision. (Not in the mouth, please! The game is recommended for ages 4 and up.)
Have you ever played Chickyboom?
Previous Games of the Month: Animal Bingo, Skip-bo, Rummikub, Qwirkle, Roads, Rivers and Rails, Colorku, Skippity, Scrambled States of America.
Amy @ Sunlit Pages says
I’ve never even heard of this game (I’m so glad you feature a new game every month!!), but it looks like something my boys would love! I’m pinning it so I can remember it for future birthdays or Christmas!
Erica @What Do We Do All Day? says
I like it because the rules are so simple and game play doesn’t take a long time, so little kids won’t get bored. I’m glad you like my monthly feature, I have so many more games in the closet to share!
Katie says
I’ve had this game in my Amazon cart for about a month! I wasn’t sure it was a good game for a 4.5 year old. Your review helped. Thanks!
Erica @What Do We Do All Day? says
Yay! Thanks, Katie. I’m happy that the post was useful for you. I hope your child enjoys it.
Susan Call Hutchison (ReadAloudReadAlong.com) says
Great! Never thought the word “Boom” would go so well with chicks, but it sure does! Puts some punch into Easter/Spring play. (And Easter definitely deserves to be punched up as a dynamic holiday, with a powerful message.)
Erica says
So funny, Susan. I never thought of it as an Easter game, but I guess this would be the season for chicks!
Miss Courtney says
This game has been on our wishlist since Christmas. I think it will be a great teaching tool.
Erica says
It’s a great game, I hope you get a chance to play it.
Samantha Lehmann says
Oh my! All three of my kids play this together… even at 11. They also play Froggie Boogie, Pengaloo, and the other Blue and Orange game. Also, try Hoot, Hoot, Owl… we have never won. That sun comes up too quickly. I HEART cooperative games… We have a homeschool games club and the kids all really like these games… so funny. Keep it simple is so true. We used this with measuremeant and balancing. It is rather hard, for us 42 year olds.
Erica says
Samatha, I agree that Blue Orange has some great games. I’ve never tried Hoot, Hoot, Owl. I’m going to have to investigate! Thanks for sharing.
Carolyn @ Pleasantest Thing says
This game is one I was considering buying for my kids last Christmas. Now I wish I had! I”ll be sure to pick it up next time.